The chilling text for which a United Airlines flight bound for Newark, New Jersey, was forced to return to Las Vegas after the text was seen by a crew member has now been revealed. 25-year-old Dante Milne, a passenger, allegedly wrote that he was “gonna hijack this” plane, using an expletive, and would “crash ur row only,” according to a copy of the criminal complaint. The document does not specify how the messages were sent or who received them.The incident took place on Saturday night, October 24, aboard United Airlines Flight 1681, which had departed Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for Newark Liberty International Airport. The flight was carrying 150 passengers.According to reports citing air traffic control audio, a flight attendant noticed the passenger texting about hijacking the aircraft and alerted the pilot. The crew then secured the cockpit and initiated a lockdown procedure.“The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft. They called me. We went into lockdown, and we returned to Vegas,” the captain told air traffic controllers, according to an audio recording.When controllers asked whether the passenger was restrained or complying with instructions, the pilot said the man was unaware of what was happening and was cooperating.“The passenger does not know anything is going on,” the pilot said. “No restraint, passenger is compliant because he’s unaware.”The aircraft had taken off with enough fuel for its planned cross-country journey and could not immediately make a normal landing at its current weight. Reports said the plane flew in loops to burn off fuel before returning to Las Vegas.The aircraft landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport at around 11.05 pm local time. No injuries were reported.Passenger arrested over alleged threatsLas Vegas police detained the man following a report of “terroristic threats” aboard the flight. He was arrested on charges of making a threat or providing false information regarding an act of terrorism. Court records show he posted a $10,000 bond and was released pending a scheduled court appearance on Tuesday.The charge carries a possible prison sentence of one to 20 years.Flight delayed overnightUnited Airlines confirmed that the flight returned safely to Las Vegas to address a “potential security concern.”The diversion caused an overnight delay after the crew reached its permitted duty-time limit. The flight eventually departed for Newark on Sunday morning, October 25.
